"On the night of the 20th of December, 1877, the Russians made an attack with Whitehead torpedoes on an Ottoman squadron lying in the harbour of Batoum, but owing to a want of practical knowledge of the manipulation of such weapons, no vessels were sunk or damaged, but two fish torpedoes, one in perfect condition, were found the next morning high and dry on the beach at that place." The American government have up to the present time not sanctioned the purchase of the costly Whitehead torpedo, preferring their own locomotive torpedo, which will be fully described further on. On a government purchasing the fish torpedo, a certain number of their naval or military officers are sent to Fiume in Austria, where Mr. R. Whitehead's manufactories are situated, and where the necessary very exhaustive experiments with his torpedoes are carried out, and are there thoroughly instructed in the manipulation of these machines, and are also supplied with a double set of drawings of the various parts of the torpedo. These officers, and all others whom it may be necessary to initiate into the mysteries of the Whitehead secret, are bound on their honour not to divulge it. _Employment of Fish Torpedoes in War._--The fish torpedo has been employed on actual service on three known occasions only, in two of which it failed to fulfil its deadly mission. On the 29th of May, 1877, a Whitehead fish torpedo was fired by H.M.S. _Shah_ against the Peruvian ironclad _Huascar_, but failed to strike her, owing to the latter vessel altering her course at the moment of the torpedo being discharged. The next instance of the employment of the Whitehead torpedo was that one mentioned at page 132. The last and only successful attempt yet made occurred on the 26th of January, 1878, when the Russian steamer _Constantine_ fired a Whitehead torpedo against a Turkish guard vessel off the harbour of Batoum, and completely destroyed her. _Description of Torpedo._--A general view of the Whitehead fish torpedo is shown at Fig. 119. It is divided into three parts, connected together by screws. 1.--The charge chamber. 2.--The adjustment chamber, in which is placed what is known as the secret. 3.--The air and engine chamber.